Evaluating efficacy of preoperative skin preparation with 2% chlorhexidine gluconate and 70% alcohol for reducing bacterial bioburden in dogs

บทคัดย่อ

Importance of the work: Optimized antisepsis and protocols are essential for improving
veterinary surgical outcomes and preventing surgical site infections (SSIs).
Objective: To assess the effectiveness of 2% chlorhexidine gluconate and 70% alcohol
(CHG-Alc) in reducing the bacterial bioburden, including multidrug-resistant strains,
in canine surgical patients.
Materials and Methods: A sample of 10 client-owned dogs was involved in the proposed
standardized skin preparation protocol. Following an initial skin cleaning step, CHG-Alc
was sprayed onto the skin and left in contact for 3 min. Then, the excess solution was
gently removed. Bacterial cultures were collected at three time points: prior to antiseptic
application (the first), immediately after the 3-min contact period and removal of the
solution (the second) and 60 min after application (the third). Samples were processed
to quantify bacterial load, identify bacterial species and assess antimicrobial resistance.
Results: Pre-antisepsis, Staphylococcus pseudintermedius was the most frequently
isolated bacterium, including the multidrug-resistant strains. Bacterial counts decreased
significantly by over 99% at the second sampling time (p = 0.006), with complete absence
of growth (0 CFU/mL) at the third sampling time (p = 0.006).
Main Finding: CHG-Alc was highly effective for canine preoperative skin preparation,
significantly reducing bacterial counts and preventing reinfection. There should be strong
support for its use in veterinary preoperative protocols to minimize the risk of surgical
site infections.